Real Estate Donations

The Zoological Lighting Institute (ZLI) accepts real estate contributions to fund its mission in mission-aligned ways:
Supporting the sciences of light and life through the arts for animal welfare and wildlife conservation.

All real estate accepted by ZLI must either meet bird-friendly standards and other wildlife-friendly criteria in advance, or be made to meet such standards from stewardship after a donation is complete.

Residential, Commercial, Industrial Property Donation

Real Estate Donation is a great way to establish a legacy, meet CSR committments, and earn financially savvy tax deductions through the liquidation of unprofitable holdings.

ZLI's Little Birds Initiative Bird-friendly Certification Levels

 

ZLI's Little Birds Initiative Partial Interest Donations

For qualifying buildings, ZLI offers a structured partial donation model through ZLI's Little Birds Initiative to maximize donor incentives and charitable impact.

Owners may donate building façades (or entire shells) as a separately deeded property (similar to a condo), while retaining ownership and use of retained occupiable portions.
This approach simplifies tax implications while creating net positive liquidity, allowing for the continued financial exploitation of real estate holdings. Unlike the former case
of entire building donations, here the charity agrees in its acceptance documents not to sell such holdings without donor approval, and only then to a new buyer 
under strict compliance with IRS Regulations. The results are improved development finances and pursuit of community interests via bird protections.

ZLI Little Birds Partial Interest Donations are to be certified and accompanied by a stewardship contribution, proporptional to the anticipated tax deduction / refund.
Stewardship is determined by certification level  (ZLI Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum), at (25%, 20%, 15%, 10%) real estate donation appraised FMV. 

A portion of the stewardship (75%) is set aside for ZLI aligned charitable spending at donor discretion
(scholarships, ZALA monitoring, bird-friendly design installations, supportive media), 
(the rest helps ZLI manage and develop the Initiative)

Compliance

ZLI does not provide legal, tax, or appraisal advice. Donors should consult their own advisors. Real estate contributions may require independent valuation and IRS documentation.

 

How the Process Works

                              1. Submit your property
                              2. ZLI evaluates the potential
                              3. Structure is determined
                              4. Transaction proceeds
                              5. Donor may, choose to select how the funds / property is used in support of the mission.

 

Submit Property for Review